University in Iowa Pays Tribute to Stefán Karl Stefánsson

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University in Iowa Pays Tribute to Stefán Karl Stefánsson

The Campanile, the iconic 110-foot clock tower that stands on the Iowa State University campus in the US, paid tribute to Icelandic actor Stefán Karl Stefánsson last week, RÚV reports. At noon on August 24, the Lazytown song “We Are Number One” rang out from the tower’s carillon, an instrument composed of 50 brass bells. A video of the tribute was posted on YouTube with the caption: “RIP Stefán Karl Stefánsson, 10 July 1975 - 21 August 2018 (aged 43). A legend on the screen and in real life.”

Stefán Karl passed away last week after a two year battle with bile duct cancer, leaving behind his wife, actress Steinunn Ólina Þorsteinsdóttir, and four children. Known internationally as the comic villain Robbie Rotten on the hit children’s TV show, Stefán Karl was also a passionate anti-bullying advocate. In 2018, he was awarded the Icelandic Order of the Falcon, the highest honour for Icelandic citizens, for his contribution to Icelandic acting as well as to Icelandic society.

Watch the original version of “We Are Number One,” performed by Stefán Karl, here. The full video of the song playing on Iowa State’s Campanile is here.